SRI NITYANANDASTAKAM

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"Eight Prayers Glorifying Lord Nitynanda"

by Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura

(translated by Swarupa Damodara dasa)

 

 

sarac-candra-bhrantim sphurad-amala-kantim gaja-gatim

hari-premonmattam dhrta-parama-sattvam smita-mukham

sada ghurnan-netramkara-kalita-vetram kali-bhidam

bhaja nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi (1)

 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti

tree, whose bright face mocks the full autumn moon, whose pure complexion

glistens, whose gait is like that of a maddened elephant, who is always

intoxicated in Krsna-prema, who embodies pure spiritual energy, whose face

holds a gentle smile, whose eyes are always rolling due to His absorption

in Krsna-prema, whose lotus hand holds a glowing staff, and who, by the

performance of nama-sankirtana, pierces the influence of Kali-yuga.

 

rasanam-agaram svajana-gana-sarvasvam-atulam

tadiyaika-prana-pratima-vasudha-jahnava-pati

sada premonmadam param-aviditam manda-manasam

bhaja nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi (2)

 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti

tree, who is the mainstay of all the rasas, who is everything to His

devotees, who is beyond compare, who is the master of both Vasudha and

Jahnava-devi, who consider Him more dear than their own lives, who is

always maddened in Krsna-prema, and who is unknown only to those of meager

intelligence.

 

saci-sunu-presthamnikhila-jagadistam sukhamayam

kalau majjaj-jivoddharana-karanoddama-karunam

harer-akhyanad-va-bhava-jaladhi-garvonnati haram

bhaja nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi (3)

 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti

tree, who is very dear to Sri Saci-nandana, who is worshipped by the

entire universe, who is the embodiment of happiness, who possesses

infinite mercy for delivering the souls who are drowning in the age of

Kali, and who, by the performance of sri-harinama-sankirtana, thwarts the

progressing false pride of the ocean of repeated birth and death.

 

aye bhratar-nrnam kali-kalusinam kinnu bhavita

tatha prayascitam racaya yad-anayasata ime

varajanti tvam-ittham saha bhagavata mantrayati yo

bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi (4)

 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti

tree, who said to Sri Krsna Caitanya, "Hey brother Gauranga! What will be

the destination of the sinful souls of Kali-yuga and how will theyt be

redeemed? Please devise a method by which they will easily attain You."

 

yathestam re bhratah! kuru hari-hari-dhvanam-anisam

tato vah samsarambudhi-tarana-dayo mayi laget

idambahu-sphotair-atati ratayan yah pratigrham

bhaja nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi (5)

 

I perpetually worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti

tree, who wandered around Bengal and, approaching the door of each and

every home, threw open His arms and exclaimed, "O brothers! All of you

should eternally perform sri-harinama-sankirtana together. By doing so, I

will take the responsibility to deliver you all from the ocean of material

existence."

 

balat samsarambhonidhi-harana-kumbhodbhavam-aho

satam srayah-sindhunnati-kumuda-bandhum samuditam

khala-sreni-sphurjat-timita-hara-surya-prabham-aham

bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi (6)

 

I eternally worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti

tree, who is the Agastya Muni who forcibly swallows the ocean of repeated

birth and death, who is a rising full moon which increases the ocean of

the saintly persons' welfare, and who is a sun which dissipates the

darkness of ignorance cast by the various classes of miscreants.

 

natantam gayantam harim-anuvadantam pathi pathi

vrajantam pasyantam svam-api na dayantam jana-ganam

prakurvantam santamsakaruna-drgantam prakalanad

bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kandam niravadhi (7)

 

I eternally worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the tree of

Krsna-bhakti, who wandered on every path in Bengal dancing, singing, and

calling out "Hari bol! Hari bol!" and who lovingly bestowed merciful

sidelong glances upon those who were not compassionate to even their own

selves.

 

subibhranam bhratuh kara-sarasi-jamkomalataram

mitho vaktralokocchalita-paramananda-hrdayam

bhramantam madhuryair-ahaha! madayantam pura-janan

bhaje nityanandam bhajana-taru-kundam niravadhi (8)

 

I eternally worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krsna-bhakti

tree, who held the supremely soft lotus-hand of His brother Sri Gauranga

Mahaprabhu, whose heart became filled with the highest bliss when the two

brothers gazed into each other's faces, and who wandered here and there

delighting the townspeople with His sweetness.

 

rasanam-adharam rasika-vara-vaisnava-dhanam

rasagaram saram patita-tati-taram smaranatah

param nityanandastakam-idam-apurvam pathati yas-

tad-anghri-dvandvabjam sphuratu nitaramtasya hrdaye (9)

 

May Sri Nityananda Prabhu place His lotus feet in the heart of one who

lovingly recites this unprecedented Nityanandastaka, which is the

reservoir of rasa, the greatest treasure of the most exalted of rasika

Vaisnavas, and the storehouse of the essence of bhakti-rasa.